Electrolytic apparatus for the clarification of sugar solutions.



H. MGGUBBIN. ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS FOR THE GLARIPIGATION 0F SUGAR SOLUTIONS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1911.

1,084,556. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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H. MGGUBBIN. ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS FOR THE GLARIFICATION 0F SUGA APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16, 1911.

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- w gw Patented Jan. 13, 191i Warren s ra rns rarnn'r OFFICE;

I ITAMILTON MoGUBBIN, 0F LAHAINA, TERBITQRY OF HAWAII.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS r03 THE crlanrrrca'rron or SUGAR somirrous.

T 0 all whomit may concern Be it known that L i LUHLTON lVloCuBmN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lahaina, in the county of Maui, Territory of Hawaii, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Electrolytic Apparatus for the Clarification of Sugar Solutions; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the clarification of sugar solutions and solutions having similar characteristics; and the object of the invention is to produce apparatus for. clari-' tying such solutions in a continuous, rapid and eflicient manner.

The invention contemplates treating the solution electrically while it is passed through a container within which are electrodes connected to an electric circuit and exposing large surfaces with which the solu tion comes in contact during it passage through the container. Means are provided for adjusting the relative positions of the electrodes with respect to each other, and

' lection'and for the removal of the sediment the ends of the container are preferably made removable topermit the withdrawal of the electrodes irom the. container for cleaning. Means are also provided for the coland impurities precipitated in the container. By. means of apparatus substantially as described, using a 100 volt direct current, I have increased the purity of sugar solutions over 6% by asingle treatment.

. One form of clarifying apparatus embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificatiomzin. which. Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a section on the line AA of Fig. 1. Fig. his a detail on a larger scale of a portion of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a detail showing in plan a strap with insulating block to which the bolt tor adjustingthe position of an electrode is secured.

, provided at the bottom of the shell 1 near Specification of Letters Patent.

threaded to receive nuts 18.

one end, and an outlet pipe 8 on the top of the shell 1 near the opposite end. A mud drum 9 is provided on the bottom of the shell 1 near its end having the outlet pipe 8. The bottom of the mud drum 9 has a pipe 10 with cook 11 for dischargingthe sediment collected in said mud drum.

Three electrodes are illustrated, the middle electrode C is the anode and Band D are the cathodes.

I Patented J an. 13, 1914.

Application filed September 16, 1911; Serial No. 649,654. I

The electrodes are snmlarly composed of parallel =vertical plateapreferably of iron plates 12 and zinc plates 12 arranged alternately. Each plate is provided with two holes for the insulat:

A metal rod 14 is fitted inside ing tube 13.

of each tube 13, and a wheel 15 is adapted to turn on each end of the rod 14:, between the end of the tube 13 and a cotter pin 16. \Vashers 17 preferably made of non-corrosivc electrically conducting material such as aluminum are provided over the tubes 18 and interposed between the plates 12 and 12% The ends of the tube 13 may be Angle iron bars 19 are secured longitudinally on opposite sides inside of the shell 1 to form a track or guideway upon which the wheels 15 are adapted to ride and support the electrodes. A strap 20 is secured to the end of the plates nearest the heads 3 of the electrodes 1i and D. A block 21 of insulating inaterial is attached to the middle of each and a bolt 22 preferably of bronze strap 20 is fastened to each block 21. The bolts 22 are passed through the stuffing box 4 with gland 5, and a hand wheel 23 with threaded hub is provided for each of these bolts outside of the head 3. Insulating bushings 2 1 are secured to the top of the shell 1 in which are binding posts 25 to which connections are made inside the shell by wires 26 to the electrodes 13, C and D respectively and outside of the shell to a direct current electric generator. s

In operation, the solution to be treated is forced either by gravity or by a pump through the container, entering by the inlet the electrodes or cathodes B and D. Duekto the fact that iron and zinc plates are employed in both the anodes and cathodes, a

galvanic action is produced between the plates in addition to the extraneous current between the electrodes, its the solution on ters the container through the inlet pipe '4', it comes into contact with the large surfaces of the plates of the electrodes, Where it is subjected to a galvanic act-ion caused by the fact that alternating iron and zinc plates are used. It has been found in practice with sugar solutions, that when the plates were all iron or all zinc the effect was not as great as When they were alternated. By operating the hand Wheels 23 the position of the cathodes may be altered with respect to the anode. The resistance of the circuit may thus be regulated, and consequently the current passing through the solution, as may be determined by ammeter readings.

Usually from 50 to 85 amperes are passed trainer connected to an electric generator out side of the container, and means operable from the exterior of the container for adjusting the electrodes with respect to each other, to vary the distance between their lateral edges.

2. Apparatus for the clarification of sugar solutions and the like, comprising av shell with a head bolted to each end, an inlet on the bottom near one end, an outlet on the top near the opposite end, a. mud drtun with dis charge pipe on the bottom or the shell near the end under the outlet, electrodes supported within and insulated from the shell, means for connecting the electrodes With a dynamo, and meal s operable from the en tcrior of the couta'ner for adjusting the relative positions of the electrodes.

In apparatus for the clarification of sugar solutions and the like, an electrode having parallel vertical flat plates Washers separating said plates and Wheels separating the plates to permit longitudinal movements thereof, the plates being electrically connected but insulated from the Wheels.

t. Apparatus for the clarification of sugar solutions and the like, comprising a containcr, electrodes mounted in said casing for movements longitudinally of the casing and means operable from the exterior of the con tainer to adjust the lon 'it-udinal relative positions of said electrodes, so as to vary the distance between their lateral edges.

lipparatus for the clarification of sugar solutitms and the like, comprising a container, longitudinal guide-Ways within the container. electrodes movably supported on said guide-Ways, said electrodes comprising a plurality of laterally spaced plates, transverse supporting members for said plates, the exterior of said supporting members adapted to be supported by said guide-ways 6. An apparatus for the clarification of sugar solutions and the like, comprising a container, an intermediate electrode mounted in said container, end electrodes movably mounted for longitudinal movements in said container and means acting on said end electrodes and operable from the exterior of the container to adjust the longitudinal positions of the said end electrodes.

in testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

HAMILTON MGCUBBIN. i l "itnesses Pron'r. J. PRATT, P. H. Bunnn'rrn. 

